The town of Townsend, Tennessee is the closest place to stay near Cades Cove. While much smaller and lesser-known than other nearby towns like Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, there are some great RV campgrounds in Townsend, TN.
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8 RV Campgrounds in Townsend, TN in the Heart of the Smoky Mountains
One of the most-visited areas of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is Cades Cove. This beautiful valley features a scenic drive and all of the natural attractions that the Smokies are known for.
Choosing one of the RV resorts in Townsend also offers easy access to nearby attractions such as Tuckaleechee Caverns, the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center, and the Appalachian Bear Rescue.
Tubing on the Little River is a popular summer pastime here, and of course, you have the Great Smoky Mountains at your doorstep when you stay at one of these RV parks in Townsend, TN.
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Cades Cove Campground
10042 Campground Drive, Townsend, TN
https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232488
For the closest camping to Cades Cove, choose this National Park Service campground. It may be a bit more rustic than the other RV campgrounds in Townsend, but you can’t beat the location! In the summer season, Wednesdays are vehicle-free days on the Cades Cove Loop, so you can bike or hike the 11-mile loop.
This area is not just known for the natural beauty, but also holds one of the best collections of log cabins in the Eastern US, thanks to the settlers who were here before the Park Service.
Cades Cove Campground is open year-round, while the peak season is May through October.
- Cost: starting at $25/night
- Reservations: Available at Recreation.gov
- Size Allowance: up to 42’
- Tent Camping: Yes
- Cabins: No
- Hookups: No
- Dump Station: Yes
- On-Site Amenities include flush toilets, drinking water, general store, utility sinks, food lockers, and 5amp hookups for medical equipment.
Related Reading: Best Campgrounds In Gatlinburg
Little Arrow Outdoor Resort
118 Stables Drive, Townsend, TN
This luxury RV campground in Townsend has everything you need for a comfortable vacation near Cades Cove. If glamping is your jam, then Little Arrow Outdoor Resort is the perfect spot for you.
With cabins, tiny homes, glamping tents, and regular camping sites, there’s something for everyone here, so you can even bring your non-camping friends and family along! You can even rent an Airstream trailer to stay in!
Live music, yoga, food truck festivals, and naturalist-led outings are just some of the fun events happening at Little Arrow Outdoor Resort.
- Cost: starting at $52 per night
- Reservations: Available Online
- Size Allowance: up to 90’
- Tent Camping: Yes
- Cabins: Cabins, glamping tents, Airstreams, and tiny homes available for rent
- Hookups: Water/Sewer/Electric (50 amp)
- Dump Station: No
- On-Site Amenities include new bathhouses, 24/7 coffee lounge, playroom, dog park, camp store, 24/7 laundry, zero-entry swimming pool, hot tub, and hiking trails.
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Townsend/Great Smokies KOA
8522 State Highway 73, Townsend, TN
https://koa.com/campgrounds/townsend-great-smokies/
This KOA resort near the Smokies has everything you’ve come to expect from a KOA Holiday resort. With Deluxe Cabins and Camping Cabins, even your non-camping family members will love this Townsend, Tennessee RV campground!
The location on the banks of the Little River offers upgraded campsites with riverfront access and private covered pavilions.
This family-friendly campground offers fun events for kids, including tie-dye t-shirt making. This really is the perfect basecamp for exploring nearby Cades Cove and the Great Smoky Mountains.
- Cost: starting at $55 per night
- Reservations: Available online
- Size Allowance: up to 60’
- Tent Camping: Yes
- Cabins: Camping Cabins and Deluxe Cabins available
- Hookups: Water/Sewer/Electric (30/50)
- Dump Station: Yes
- On-Site Amenities include a seasonal outdoor swimming pool, laundry room, snack bar, bike rentals, tube rentals, and a dog park.
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Mountaineer Campground
8451 State Highway 73, Townsend, TN
http://www.mountaineercampground.biz/
This quiet RV campground in Townsend has just enough amenities to offer a comfortable stay without losing focus on the natural attractions that draw visitors here in the first place. You can’t beat this location on the Little River, with mature trees providing much-needed shade from the hot Tennessee sun. With smaller lots, this RV park is better suited to smaller campers, RVs, and tents. Bring your bicycles and follow the bike path into town or throw a pole in the river and see what you can catch. Tubing on the river is also great fun in the hot summer months!
- Cost: starting at $40 per night
- Reservations: (865) 448-6421
- Size Allowance: up to 40’
- Tent Camping: Yes
- Cabins: Yes
- Hookups: Water/Sewer/Electric (30/50)
- Dump Station: No
- On-Site Amenities include an outdoor swimming pool, playground, laundry, modern bathhouses, and Sunday Services in the summer.
Whispering River Resort
5050 Old Walland Highway, Walland, TN
https://whisperingriverresort.com/
This quiet riverside RV resort is located in the Walland between Knoxville and Townsend. Riverfront access offers opportunities for fishing, paddling, or tubing.
In just 45 minutes, you can be at Cades Cove or in Pigeon Forge, and 35 minutes gets you to Knoxville.
That said, this area is known as the quiet side of the Smokies, so it’s the perfect RV park near Townsend for those looking to kick back and relax while enjoying the magnificent scenery.
- Cost: starting at $47 per night
- Reservations: Available online
- Size Allowance: up to 45’
- Tent Camping: Yes
- Cabins: Yes
- Hookups: Water/Sewer/Electric (30/50)
- Dump Station: No
- On-Site Amenities include horseshoes, volleyball, laundry, swimming pool, sand beach, and private bathrooms with individual showers.
Related Reading: Best Campgrounds In Pigeon Forge
Big Meadow Family Campground
8215 Cedar Creek Rd, Townsend, TN
https://bigmeadowcampground.com/
This family-friendly campground in Townsend, Tennessee has twice been named the National Small Park of the Year by the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds. Located just across the Little River from the heart of Townsend, so you’ll have easy access to Townsend attractions and restaurants.
The National Park entrance is also just a few miles away. With so many fun amenities for the whole family, you might not ever leave the campground!
Of all the RV campgrounds near Townsend, this one has the largest sites and the most sites that can fit the big rigs.
- Cost: starting at $75/day
- Reservations: Available online
- Size Allowance: up to 75’
- Tent Camping: No
- Cabins: No
- Hookups: Water/Sewer/Electric (30/50)
- Dump Station: No
- On-Site Amenities include climate-controlled bathrooms and laundry room, lawn games, basketball court, dog park, splash pad, workout room, and 24-hour gated security.
Little River Campground
7261 E. Lamar Alexander Parkway, Townsend, TN
https://www.littlerivercampground.com/
This campground in Townsend offers the best of both worlds for campers looking for an escape to nature with the conveniences of town just a few minutes away.
This family-owned campground is often being updated and upgraded, and currently offers RV sites, tent sites, and glamping cabins for rent!
With riverfront access, you can choose from tubing on the river or fly fishing, as well as biking along the Townsend Bike Trail.
- Cost: starting at $65 per night
- Reservations: Available online
- Size Allowance: up to 45’
- Tent Camping: Yes
- Cabins: Yes
- Hookups: Water/Sewer/Electric (30/50)
- Dump Station: No
- On-Site Amenities include a general store, two bathhouses, a dishwashing sink for tent campers, tube rentals, live music, arts and crafts, and an outdoor swimming pool.
Lazy Daze Campground
8429 State Highway 73, Townsend, TN
https://lazydazecampground.com/
This riverfront campground near Townsend offers a laidback alternative to some of the more active campgrounds in the area. Just nine miles from Cades Cove, this campground has a friendly base of more permanent campers, with full hookup sites and several cabins available for rent.
- Cost: starting at $50 per night
- Reservations: 865-448-6061
- Size Allowance: up to 40’
- Tent Camping: No
- Cabins: Yes
- Hookups: Water/Sewer/Electric (30/50)
- Dump Station: No
- On-Site Amenities include river access, outdoor swimming pool, general store, 24-hour laundry, playground, and pet walk area.
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